Current Population Survey, March 1978 [United States]: Annual Social and Economic Supplement [Annual Demographic File]

Current Population Survey, March 1978 [United States]: Annual Social and Economic Supplement [Annual Demographic File]

Study Number:

132

Catalog Date:

05/12/1998

Primary Investigator(s):

United States Department of Commerce. Bureau of the Census

Source:

CENBUR

Access Restrictions:

No

Abstract:

The Current Population Survey (CPS) is a monthly survey of about 50,000
households conducted by the Bureau of the Census for the Bureau of Labor
Statistics. The survey has been conducted for more than 50 years.
The CPS is the primary source of information on the labor force
characteristics of the U.S. population. The sample is scientifically
selected to represent the civilian noninstitutional population.
Respondents are interviewed to obtain information about the employment
status of each member of the household 15 years of age and older. However,
published data focus on those ages 16 and over. The sample provides
estimates for the nation as a whole and serves as part of model-based
estimates for individual states and other geographic areas.

Estimates obtained from the CPS include employment, unemployment,
earnings, hours of work, and other indicators. They are available by a
variety of demographic characteristics including age, sex, race, marital
status, and educational attainment. They are also available by occupation,
industry, and class of worker. Supplemental questions to produce estimates
on a variety of topics including school enrollment, income, previous work experience, health, employee benefits, and work schedules are also often
added to the regular CPS questionnaire.

CPS data are used by government policymakers and legislators as important
indicators of our nation's economic situation and for planning and
evaluating many government programs. They are also used by the press,
students, academics, and the general public.

The Annual Demographic Survey or March CPS supplement is the primary
source of detailed information on income and work experience in the United
States. Numerous publications based on this survey are issued each year by
the Bureaus of Labor Statistics and Census. A public-use microdata file is
available for private researchers, who also produce many academic and
policy-related documents based on these data.

The Annual Demographic Survey is used to generate the annual Population
Profile of the United States, reports on geographical mobility and
educational attainment, and detailed analysis of money income and poverty
status. The labor force and work experience data from this survey are used
to profile the U.S. labor market and to make employment projections.
To allow for the same type of in-depth analysis of Hispanics, additional
Hispanic sample units are added to the basic CPS sample in March each
year. Additional weighting is also performed so that estimates can be made
for households and families, in addition to persons.

Universe:

Non-institutionalized civilian population of the United States living in housing units, and male members of the Armed Forces living in civilian housing units on a military base or in households not on a military base.